Abstract
Background: This study focused on assessing climate change vulnerability in Zambia's Kafue Sub-basin, a region whose economy is driven by agriculture. By concentrating on the challenges in agriculture and infrastructure within the Kafue region, particularly impacting rural areas and marginalised communities, the study emphasised the importance of engineering infrastructure in enhancing adaptive capacity. The research explored specific stressors affecting exposure and sensitivity within the sub-basin.
Method: The study adopted the mixed-method approach, which included expert interviews and a Geographic Information System (GIS)--based analysis. The Fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (Fuzzy TOPSIS) is used for study to evaluate capacity exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity indicators. Fuzzy TOPSIS analysis comprehensively examined exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity within the sub-basin. This assessment underscored the crucial role of robust infrastructure in mitigating climate risks.
Results: Analysis revealed varying vulnerability levels across the sub-basin. Southern districts exhibited higher vulnerability due to increased exposure and limited adaptive capacity. The study identified deficiencies in infrastructure, especially in rural areas, impacting economic growth and exacerbating poverty, particularly among smallholder farmers and marginalised groups.
Conclusion: The findings of this research study demonstrated the use of various factors in the decision-making process to select reliable indicators aimed at improving adaptive capacities concerning the requirements of engineering infrastructure. The research underscored the critical need to strengthen adaptive capacity as the primary strategy for managing climate risks in the Kafue Sub-basin. It highlighted the necessity for infrastructural improvements in access to resources and services, especially in underserved regions, to alleviate the disproportionate impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities.
Keywords - Climate Change Vulnerability, Kafue Sub-basin, Engineering Infrastructure, Multi-Criteria Decision-Making.